Hackbridge Ecology Park Who we are Our Vision An independent group of local Hackbridge residents, The proposed Hackbridge Ecology Park will be a workers, ecologists and stakeholders who have come new gateway to the Wandle Valley Regional Park, together to improve an area of land for the benefit of the a place for nature and people to cohabit, in the heart of wider community. the Wandle Valley at Hackbridge. Project Update, January 2016 Photo: land north of BedZED, courtesy of Lukas Becker © Creating a vibrant, community-led ecology park Our vision is to regenerate a neglected open space in our neighbourhood and transform it into a vibrant, community- led and governed ecology park. The site will be accessible to the public and provide a haven for residents and school children to escape to a natural, wild space where birdsong can be heard over the noise of the busy A-road nearby. About the land Integrating ecology and improving community amenities The site is a 25 hectare piece of land that will act as a gateway to London Borough of Sutton and the community committed to a vision for Hackbridge Beddington Farmlands, a restoration project that is part of the Wandle as a sustainable suburb in 2009 and our neighbourhood plan has developed this further. Valley Regional Park programme; providing 830 hectares of connected A community-led ecology park builds on this aspiration, demonstrating how we can green space from the source of the River Wandle in Croydon to its mouth in manage green spaces to benefit wildlife, while providing a high quality environment for the Wandsworth. community to enjoy. The site is designated for Wandle Valley Regional Park and has a range On the wider Beddington Farmlands, 258 species of bird, 526 species of moth, 9 species of planning designations, including Metropolitan Open Land, Site of of bat and over 300 species of plants have been documented, as well as hundreds of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation and Safeguarded for invertebrates - including a species of fly that was considered extinct. With the land under Mineral Extraction. The northern part of the site is a restored gravel quarry community management, we can protect and improve the site’s ecology, while creating and landfill site owned by Day Group. The southern part of the site is new educational and recreational activities. owned by Sutton Council. See the map for details. A large body of evidence shows how green exercise and contact with nature provides multiple benefits for health and wellbeing. Workshops with the community have suggested a number of possible activities on the ecology park that support this: • Habitat restoration: increasing the ecological value of the land whilst also creating places for people to engage with and learn about the wildlife. • Outdoor activities: nature tours, ecological play areas, cycle paths, bird watching, photography, walking and running. • Social support services: providing volunteering, mentoring and construction opportunities to help people integrate with the community, gain skills and confidence. • Food growing: providing healthy, sustainable produce to the local area. • Natural swimming pool: a low impact pool providing a unique, local place for people to swim. • Renewable energy generation: solar panels that generate renewable energy for the community The ecology park will sit and income to cover the ongoing running costs for the park. adjacent to the iconic BedZED housing development. Photograph by Lukas Becker © 1 Map of proposed area This map provides an overview of the boundaries, access points and areas under consideration for the ecology park. One of the next 1 stages involves a full site, integrated plan to determine walkways and placement of features. Area of interest: in ownership of Sutton Council and Day & Sons 4 Drainage channels altered to create watercourses and wetlands Walking routes existing and/or new a Existing grassland habitat retained and enhanced b Existing woodland habitat retained and enhanced LONDON ROAD A237 ROAD LONDON RAILWAY TRACK RAILWAY c Observation point or hide Proposed access point and visitor facilities to Ecology Park Site b CURRENT LAND OWNERSHIP AND AMENITIES 1 Bridges over railway 3 BedZED pavilion 2 Area in Sutton Council 4 Area in Day & Sons ownership* c ownership* * designated Metropolitan Open Land and Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation b PROPOSED SCHOOL SITE 2 New school building, playground and parking Grass playing pitch within school boundary a Boundary treatment of school site to integrate with park x Potential area of mitigation for loss of SINC due to school c x Signalised crossing of London Road 1 b Hackbridge Ecology Park Group 3 Site Concept Map: 3rd July 2015 Progress to date What next? March 2015: Ecology Park visioning workshop. The following stages are required to develop the project further: April 2015: Group formally constituted. 1. Agreement in Principle support from landowners Unlocking any further project development requires commitment from the July 2015: Pre-feasibility study completed landowners. There has been support from the landowners of the northern with funding support from Social Investment area, Day Group, who have expressed interest in an asset transfer of the land Business. This study examined the status and to Hackbridge Ecology Park, in support of the project and because they have issues surrounding the site, identified key opportunities, stakeholders and ran a community completed gravel extraction and the land is surplus to their requirements. consultation to determine a vision for the land. On the southern section of the land, we are seeking a letter of Agreement in Principle from Sutton Council for a long-term lease of the land to Hackbridge October 2015: A second workshop presented the pre-feasibility study to the community and Ecology Park. These commitments are essential to unlock grants for the identified key questions and next steps for the project. A renewable energy feasibility study following stages to proceed: funded by the Urban Community Energy Fund was also completed. This study focused on the northern section of the land, exploring integration with wildlife, energy generation potential, possible financing and approximate profits to help finance Hackbridge Ecology Park. 2. An integrated plan Working with the various stakeholders identified in our pre-feasibility The group continues to meet regularly however we are at a stage where support from the report, an integrated plan will establish the amenities, placements and their landowners is required to progress the project further. integration with the wider land and community. We are confident we can raise funds to complete this stage. A community-led organisation 3. Develop the organisational governance structure The group will further develop its governance structure and register as Hackbridge Ecology Park is a voluntary group that includes members from Bioregional, a Community Benefit Society, paving the way for further community Conservation Science Group for Beddington Farmlands, Hackbridge and Beddington Corner involvement and financial investment. Neighbourhood Development Group, London Wildlife Trust , Sutton Community Farm and the Wandle Forum. 4. Lease and asset transfers, business planning and fundraising The group is constituted as a Limited Company with intentions to register as a Community The ecology park will develop in stages as funding and investment allow. The Benefit Society; this supports a democratic, non-profit-distributing structure that can lease and asset transfer will unlock opportunities for investment, enabling receive various sources of funding and obtain charitable status. further business planning and the commencement of activities. Contact Hackbridge Ecology Park Group Chair: Peter Alfrey 24 Helios Road Treasurer: Samuel Smith London, Wallington Secretary: Sue Riddlestone OBE Surrey, SM6 7BZ Email: [email protected] Website: hackbridgeecopark.weebly.com Peregrines bred locally and seen feeding over the farmlands.